Labor Day means more traffic on state highways as motorists hit the road to celebrate the last holiday weekend of summer.

In order to ease congestion, the state Department of Transportation and contractors plan to suspend most construction work for the weekend. Crews move off most roads from noon Friday through Sept. 3.

“It’s a popular weekend to travel; traffic is pretty much going to be busy any time you head out the door, but I find knowing what to expect in advance and/or where to find the traffic info makes traveling much easier,” Mark Finch, Statewide Travel Data Analysis Office manager, said in a statement. Read more

The Newcastle and Renton communities are invited to meet and greet with Miss Washington 2012, Mandy Schendel, at a homecoming celebration on Aug. 25.

Schendel, a Newcastle resident and 2008 Hazen High School graduate, was crowned Miss Washington last month. She will compete in the Miss America Pageant in January.

The purpose of having a homecoming event for Miss Washington is to allow the local community that she came from to come and see her and wish her well as she travels the state for speaking events and prepares for the Miss America Pageant. Read more

Mitchell, 66, served as senior vice president, human resources and marketing, at the Renton hospital. Police said she left for a walk and then drowned Aug. 8 in Rainbow Lake at Issaquah-Pine Lake Road Southeast and Southeast 44th Street near Klahanie.

Investigators said Mitchell lived within a mile of Rainbow Lake.

Mitchell worked at Valley Medical Center since 1999, initially as director of human resources, and then rose to vice president of human resources and, later, to senior vice president, human resources and marketing.

The mercury is expected to surpass 90 degrees in the days ahead, and as temperatures rise, so do the risks for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

National Weather Service meteorologists in Seattle forecast highs of 89 for Wednesday, 95 for Thursday and 96 for Friday — hot enough to trigger a regional excessive heat watch. Thursday and Friday could rank among the hottest days of 2012.

State public health officials recommend for people seeking relief from high temperatures to visit air-conditioned places, such as public libraries, shopping malls or movie theaters. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help people stay cooler once they get back into the heat. Read more

Newcastle Golf Club Road just east of the 155th Avenue intersection will be closed for about four hours due to a major motorcycle accident, which involved a fatality, according to Sara McMillon, Newcastle city clerk.

United Way of King County raised more during a recent fundraiser than any other United Way organization in the United States — $103 million — leaders announced July 24.

The nonprofit organization received $34.1 million in direct donations on behalf of donors for efforts to end homelessness, meet people’s basic needs and give children better opportunities to succeed.

“The people and businesses of King County have long established a culture of giving back to the community, and it’s that sustained giving in our region that has enabled United Way and its partners to build the capacity of our community to take care of those in need, despite the challenging economy,” fundraising leader Roy Whitehead, Washington Federal president and CEO, said in a statement.